After acting school he was discovered by Jean Cocteau and appeared in a wartime production of Les parents terribles ("The Terrible Parents"). His first feature film came in 1946 with his role in Les portes de la nuit ("The Doors of the Night"). He later went on to perform in 80 films including The Pianist (1998).
In 1965 he began a second career as a singer, with the help of Simone Signoret and her husband Yves Montand. Reggiani became one of the most acclaimed performers of French "Chanson" ("song") and although he was in his 40s, his bad-boy image made him popular with both young and older listeners. His best known songs include "Les loups sont entres dans Paris" ("The Wolves Have Entered Paris") and "La femme qui est dans mon lit." ("The Woman Who Is In My Bed").
In later life he became a painter and gave a number of exhibitions of his artwork.
Serge Reggiani died of a heart attack at the age of 82, one day after the death of another well known French singer Sacha Distel. He is interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse.
Michèle
Serge Reggiani Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La vie, c'est beau, pourtant, Michèle,
C'est l'arbre mort sur qui s'acharne un brin de mousse
Et le désert où l'herbe pousse...
La vie a l'âme slave
Et les colèr's dociles de l'esclave,
C'est une fleur cachée dans un missel,
Un grand roman signé Joseph Kessel...
Combien de défaites, combien de défis
Entre l'eau de la fontaine et l'eau de vie?...
Combien de fêtes,
De faux prophètes,
Le vin au prêtre et l'absinthe au poète...
Lorsque ma tendresse t'a déshabitée,
Vois-tu dans l'ivresse enfin la vérité ?
J'ai le visage
De mes voyages,
Toi, l'alcool vagabond ravage ta beauté...
Alcoholics anonymus...
La vie, c'est grand, pourtant, Michèle,
C'est la violence qui secoue la moindre pousse,
Chacun pour elle et toi pour tous!...
La vie a l'âme russe,
Elle est la voix mineure des chorus,
La corde grave de nos violoncelles,
Un grand remords signé Joseph Kessel...
Combien de défaites, combien de défis
Entre l'eau de la fontaine et l'eau de vie?...
Combien de fêtes et de tempêtes,
Fanfaronnades sourdes des trompettes...
Lorsque mes caresses t'ont désenchantée,
Vois-tu dans l'ivresse enfin la vérité ?...
J'ai le visage
De mes voyages,
Toi, l'alcool vagabond naufrage ta beauté...
The song "Michèle" by Serge Reggiani talks about the harsh realities of life and the impact of alcoholism on relationships. The lyrics use powerful metaphors to depict the bitter-sweetness of life. Reggiani compares life to a dead tree on which a bit of moss clings, along with a desert where grass grows, symbolizing the fragile and harsh aspects of life. The song goes on to depict the detrimental effects of alcoholism on a once-beautiful relationship. The chorus "Alcoholics anonymous" provides a haunting backdrop to the song, indicating the failure of the singer to make his loved one realize the dangers of alcohol.
Reggiani also draws much inspiration from Joseph Kessel, and uses him as a role model. Kessel was a French journalist and novelist who wrote about his experiences as a pilot during World War II. Reggiani incorporates Kessel's ideas and experiences into his lyrics to convey the sense of loss and defeat experienced by the singer. Ultimately, the song is a powerful commentary on life's fragility and the consequences of making hurtful decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Alcoholics anonymus...
The song begins with a reference to Alcoholics Anonymous, possibly suggesting a struggle with addiction.
La vie, c'est beau, pourtant, Michèle,
Life is beautiful, yet the use of Michèle's name implies a personal connection or address to her.
C'est l'arbre mort sur qui s'acharne un brin de mousse
Comparing life to a dead tree with a small growth of moss, suggesting that even in death, there is still some form of life and hope.
Et le désert où l'herbe pousse...
Life is a contradiction, like a desert with growing grass, that things aren't always as they seem.
La vie a l'âme slave
The soul of life is Slavic, hinting at a connection to a certain culture or upbringing.
Et les colèr's dociles de l'esclave,
Life also has submissive traits of anger that correlate with a slave's demeanor.
C'est une fleur cachée dans un missel,
Life is a rare flower that must be discovered, like finding something hidden in a religious book.
Un grand roman signé Joseph Kessel...
Joseph Kessel's name is mentioned again, possibly as a reference to a book or work of literature that has a similar message to this song.
Combien de défaites, combien de défis
Asking how many failures and challenges we must face in life.
Entre l'eau de la fontaine et l'eau de vie?...
Asking whether we will choose a simple life or a more dangerous one, represented by water or alcohol respectively.
Combien de fêtes,
Asking how many celebrations we will have in life.
De faux prophètes,
Suggesting that many people in life present themselves as true leaders, but in reality are not.
Le vin au prêtre et l'absinthe au poète...
Referencing the use of alcohol by both holy people and artists, potentially warning of alcoholism and addiction.
Lorsque ma tendresse t'a déshabitée,
When my tenderness towards you has faded or gone away, suggesting a loss or change in affection.
Vois-tu dans l'ivresse enfin la vérité ?
Asking whether Michèle sees the truth when she is drunk or under the influence of alcohol.
J'ai le visage
I have a visage or face.
De mes voyages,
My face is marked by my travels, implying a sense of experience and wisdom.
Toi, l'alcool vagabond ravage ta beauté...
Michèle's beauty is being destroyed by alcohol, potentially warning against the dangers of substance abuse.
La vie, c'est grand, pourtant, Michèle,
Life is grand, but Michèle is still addressed with a personal connection.
C'est la violence qui secoue la moindre pousse,
Violence shakes even the smallest growth, again hinting at the contradiction and unpredictability of life.
Chacun pour elle et toi pour tous!...
Everyone for themselves and you for everyone, suggesting Michèle's selflessness or perhaps her being taken advantage of.
La vie a l'âme russe,
Bringing up the soul of life again, but now it's described as Russian, implying a unique perspective and culture.
Elle est la voix mineure des chorus,
Life has a small voice in choral music, possibly hinting at the need for unity or harmony in life.
La corde grave de nos violoncelles,
The heavy string of our cellos, implying that life has a dark and sorrowful aspect.
Un grand remords signé Joseph Kessel...
Joseph Kessel is referenced again, this time hinting at a sense of guilt or regret.
Fanfaronnades sourdes des trompettes...
Deafening blaring from trumpets, potentially representing false pride or displays of power.
Lorsque mes caresses t'ont désenchantée,
When my caresses or intimate gestures have lost their enchantment or appeal.
Vois-tu dans l'ivresse enfin la vérité ?...
Again asking if Michèle sees the truth when she is drunk or under the influence.
J'ai le visage
Repeating the same line from earlier.
De mes voyages,
Repeating the same line from earlier.
Toi, l'alcool vagabond naufrage ta beauté...
Michèle's beauty is further being destroyed by alcohol, likening it to a shipwreck.
Contributed by Grace C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@babettecattaneo6983
À 68 ans je suis toujours aussi sensible à cette chanson que je l'étais à 20 ans j'ai adoré cet artiste et je pense que ça sera jusqu'à la fin de mes jours je viens d'écouter la chanson toujours aussi ému❤️🌹🙏
@gianunzio5972
Rien à ajouter merci babette
@alainfontaine9932
Si tu écoutais ça à 20 ans( comme moi ) tu fais le calcul 20 moins 20 ..nous n'existons pas ...tandis que maintenant toi 68 ans moi 63 ..elle prend tout son sens 😉
@babettecattaneo6983
Il y a longtemps que la chanson a pris son sens ma fille a 45 ans mon fils à 50 ans😂🥰🙋♀️
@patbgt4468
Pareil à 66 ans, il y a aussi la môme
@babettecattaneo6983
@@patbgt4468 on avait à cette époque tellement de chanteur super ce sont des magnifiques souvenirs mais j'aime aussi le rap mon petit-fils en fait il me fait écouter dans la maison à tue-tête toutes les chansons qu'il écrit et j'adore ça😂😂🥰🙋♀️
@user-oy9cg1xk9t
L époque où il y avait encore de vrais chanteurs !!!
@ljs3865
toi tu es super drole mais c est vrais en plus
@helenenoye1135
Entièrement d'accord, nous n'avons plus des chanteurs avant une voix, un texte et une interprétation magnifique ....
@richardlewandowski3946
Et des bons paroliers,,💪